How life has changed in Staffordshire Moorlands

Staffordshire Moorlands' population increased by about 2,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 97,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Staffordshire Moorlands increased by 2.8%, from almost 94,500 to 97,100.

The addition of just over 2,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Staffordshire Moorlands was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Staffordshire Moorlands

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Staffordshire Moorlands increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This area had the third-highest average age in the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 15.0% of people in Staffordshire Moorlands are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Staffordshire Moorlands by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

Staffordshire Moorlands saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.1%) households in Staffordshire Moorlands had only one person, compared with 24.9% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 7.7% to 9.5%.

Across the region, Stafford saw the next largest increase in the proportion of one-person households (from 26.1% in 2001 to 29.2% in 2011).

During this period, Staffordshire Moorlands fell below four local authority areas, including Wychavon and Telford and Wrekin, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the 10th-lowest percentage of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Staffordshire Moorlands saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just under one in nine (10.9%) people aged 16 and over in Staffordshire Moorlands said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 8.8% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 59.1% to 54.2%.

Across the region, Shropshire saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner (from 9.7% in 2001 to 11.6% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner, as the regional average grew from 10.1% to 11.3%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Staffordshire Moorlands

In 2011, 98.7% of Staffordshire Moorlands residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 99.2% in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 88.7% to 82.7%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 0.6% of people in Staffordshire Moorlands said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.4% in 2001. About 0.5% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.3% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.1%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Staffordshire Moorlands remained close to 98.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Staffordshire Moorlands by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

Staffordshire Moorlands saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62.6%) households in Staffordshire Moorlands had no children, compared with 59.3% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 29.1% to 26.2%.

Across the region, only Tamworth (from 53.1% to 56.7%) and Wyre Forest (from 60.0% to 63.5%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households without children.

During this period, Staffordshire Moorlands overtook five local authority areas, including Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Staffordshire Moorlands

The percentage of Staffordshire Moorlands residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 88.0% to 87.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.4%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.5% in 2001. The percentage of Staffordshire Moorlands residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 8.6%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (which remained close to 89.0%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Staffordshire Moorlands

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Staffordshire Moorlands, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.5 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 21.0% of respondents in Staffordshire Moorlands said they had no religion, up from 10.5% in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 13.3% to 23.5%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 78.1% of respondents in Staffordshire Moorlands said they were Christian, down from 89.0% in 2001. About 0.4% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from 0.2% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Staffordshire Moorlands increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, West Midlands and Staffordshire Moorlands by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Staffordshire Moorlands, but at a slower rate than in Stoke-on-Trent (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Staffordshire Moorlands).

In Staffordshire Moorlands, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.8% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Stoke-on-Trent increased from 7.4% to 14.4%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.2% to 14.0%.

The rate of social housing in Staffordshire Moorlands remained close to 8.9%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 83.2% to 79.7%.

Private renting in Staffordshire Moorlands increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Staffordshire Moorlands, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Staffordshire Moorlands residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.6% to 5.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67.5% in 2001. The percentage of Staffordshire Moorlands residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.9% to 14.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Staffordshire Moorlands decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Staffordshire Moorlands, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Staffordshire Moorlands working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.9% to 11.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 12.5% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Staffordshire Moorlands decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Staffordshire Moorlands, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Staffordshire Moorlands residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.2% to 2.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.6% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.3% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Staffordshire Moorlands remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Staffordshire Moorlands by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Staffordshire Moorlands residents that were studying increased from 2.3% to 2.5% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 52.6%, while the percentage of Staffordshire Moorlands residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 2.8%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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